R7 PENALTIES - Imrie defends his actions after 'that' incident
4/7/2000 17:12 (Jason Whittaker) - Forty-eight hours after what is sure to become the most talked about racing incident in many years, Mike Imrie has spoken about Russell Ingall and the battle that resulted in damaged cars, fines, points deductions, and wide-spread condemnation from the motorsport community.
Speaking to V8SP10 this afternoon, Imrie defended his actions and condemned those of Russell Ingall’s, after Ingall punted Imrie off the track in anger for blocking him at the turn 4/5 complex in the first race at Queensland Raceway yesterday.
Imrie said he made every possible attempt to make way for Ingall, and that “the Enforcer’s” actions that followed were completely unwarranted.
"You can't just drop off the racing line in turn 5," 43-year-old Imrie explained.
"He quite cleanly passed me at (into) turn six, and he had a big lose on the way out of turn six, and that's how I got next to him,” he said.
Imrie claims Ingall’s lose in making the passing manoeuvre in the double-apex, sixth corner complex gave the impression that his Saabwreck Commodore was holding-up Ingall’s Castrol machine. In realty, Imrie claims, he did all he could in allowing Ingall to pass.
The alleged “hold-up” meant Ingall couldn’t pass Mark Larkham coming down the straight, allowing Larkham to finish third ahead of Ingall. It was the anger that resulted from this that provided the impetus for Ingall’s actions.
"I stayed to the right and saw him coming and coming, and I thought ‘hello, he's gonna keep coming!’" Imrie said.
Imrie explained that Ingall hit him twice, the second hit resulting in Imrie spinning his Commodore into the pit straight wall, resulting in a chain-reaction of events that forced many drivers to violently swerve in avoidance of him.
While Ingall received the maximum penalty for his actions – a $10,000 fine and 20 point deduction for “Careless driving,” Imrie claims CAMS officials weren’t severe enough.
He says Ingall should also have been charged with “Culpable driving,” which could have resulted in a $15,000 fine, a 50 point reduction, or a total exclusion from the days results.
"He really should have got the maximum (penalty),” Imrie said. Some Level 1 people are suggesting that he should be banned for the rest of the year!"
Imrie was also charged for misconduct after it was found he did, indeed, “block” Ingall on the final lap. He received a $1000 fine, suspended for the next three races.
Imrie refused to rule-out a possible appeal against the decision, noting, “I wouldn't have been charged if he (Ingall) didn't do what he did.”
However, a furious Russell Ingall spoke-out against Imrie’s actions at the post-race press conference on Sunday, labelling him an “idiot,” and declaring, “he did every driver a favour” by punting Imrie into the wall.
Ingall also had support from Mark Skaife, who, in referring to the Imrie incident, conceded that, “some of the guys at the back of the field do cause some drama.”
But Imrie has defended his racing experience, talk of restricting grid densities, and his right to be on the grid, declaring cutting grid numbers is not the answer.
"It's a bit unfair cutting the grid capacities back and making it a boys club. Everybody should go and qualify," he said.
Imrie’s VT Commodore is today wearing the battle-scars of a memorable weekend, with damage sustained in the high-speed battle with Ingall – including to the rear suspension, watts linkage and significant panel damage – likely to keep Imrie from competing at the next round at Winton in two weeks time.
It is estimated repair work could amount to just under $20,000.
The Ingall/Imrie incident was one of many to come under investigation by CAMS stewards. The following penalties were handed-down:
SATURDAY PRACTICE/QUALIFYING:
## John Bowe was fined $500 for passing the chequered flag twice.
## Craig Baird breached the Pit Lane Speed Limit and was fined $300.
## Neil Crompton breached the Pit Lane Speed Limit and was fined $200.
## Paul Weel had used the cross over link road, which was contrary to what the Race Directors instructions were on Friday 30 June. Due to the circumstance that he had received a "flat tyre" and therefore pulled off the circuit onto the road not to endanger or hinder other drivers, he only received a reprimand.
SUNDAY RACES:
##An incident between Tony Longhurst and Jason Bargwanna led to an inquiry, which resulted in no action being taken as evidence supplied was insufficient to warrant any penalties.
## Inquiries were held into two separate incidents between Russell Ingall and Mike Imrie in Race 1. Russell alleged that Mike had tried to block him while he was attempting to lap the slower driver at turn 5 and then turn 6. Findings revealed that Mike had pulled back onto the race line, in front of Russell and was therefore fined $1000 to be suspended for the next three V8 Supercar meetings. The second incident saw Russell make contact with Mike while trying to lap him along the pit straight, resulting in Mike spinning into the pit wall. Evidence found that Russell had not been looking ahead down the pit straight, rather across to Mike while making a hand gesture, when the incident occurred. This resulted in Russell being fined $10,000 and 20 Shell Championship Series points being deducted from the number of points accrued in Race 1.
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